You could get a bursary via your college office, to help with education-related costs if you’re 16 to 19 years old and: studying at school or college (not university) in England on a training course, including unpaid apprenticeships if you receive Personal Independence Payment, or are in Care, are a Care Leaver or receive Universal Credit/ Income Support. You can spend the money on things like: clothing, books and other equipment for your course transport and lunch on days you study.
The college's main site is in the centre of Bolton, and it operates from five other sites and approximately 100 community venues in and around the Bolton area. The college offers a wide range of vocational and technical study programmes, including work-based learning, ESOL courses, Diplomas, apprenticeships, Access courses, and Higher Education course.
Call 01204 482 000
This is a Local Authority service which is offered borough wide.
Whether you want to learn new skills for work, develop your creativity, improve your confidence and wellbeing or participate in learning activities with your children, Bury Adult Learning Service will have a course for you.
We aim to deliver high quality accessible learning in response to the needs of individuals, the community and employers.
Courses take place at Bury Adult Learning Centre, Ramsbottom Library and Adult Learning Centre, Prestwich Library and Adult Learning Centre and community venues across the borough of Bury.
Find out what there is available here- https://www.bury.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/adult-learning
Room Hire
We have rooms to accommodate up to 30 people in a variety of configurations to suit your purpose, for example:
- Team meetings
- Small conferences
- Community group meetings
- Staff or volunteer training sessions
Room hire is priced at £25 per hour and includes Wi-Fi, smartboards and audio-visual equipment, and access to vending machines. If you’d like to discuss use of space at Bury Adult Learning Centre, please call 0161 253 5772 or email a.brooke@bury.gov.uk for more information.
Contact Details
Telephone Number: 0161 253 5772
Email: learner.services@bury.gov.uk
Website: Bury Adult Learning Service
Facebook: /BuryAdultLearning
Bury College offers a full range of academic and vocational courses from entry level to level 4. The College has a large 6th Form Centre providing AS, A Levels and diplomas and also provides a wide range of full and part-time university courses. Bury College also works with local employers to provide apprenticeships, short courses, professional work-based training, university and management courses.
Contact details:
- Telephone number - 0161 280 8280
- Email address - information@burycollege.ac.uk
- Visit our Bury College website.
Welcome to the BuryEST (Bury Employment Support & Training) information page!
Can you offer paid employment or a work experience placement to a Bury resident who has a disability or is disadvantaged and is actively looking for paid employment?
Who Are we
Bury EST is a supported employment service. We work with individuals who have various disabilities to increase their employability, independence and social skills with the hope that some will eventually become work ready and able to sustain meaningful employment.
Based at The Lodge House in Manchester Road Park, Bury we work in partnership with employers, individuals and organisations to create a socially inclusive and diverse workforce.
We have vast experience (over 25 years) in the supported employment sector and have worked with local and national stakeholders and partner organisations to successfully deliver various supported employment projects.
We work in close partnership with Bury Adult Learning Centre and other training providers to deliver bespoke and in- house training courses.
Customer Case Studies
Meet Ben...
Ben is a young man with Autism who was referred to Bury EST for support in finding paid part-time employment.
Bury EST has been working with Ben to build up his confidence, independence and employability skills.
A vacancy was advertised at The Duckworth Arms for a Cleaner. Bury EST’s Placement Officer contacted The Duckworth Arms and negotiated a 4 week work trial for Ben. Ben completed his work trial successfully and as a result he was offered a paid part-time position. Ben and his employer are both happy and Ben is now working 3 days per week.
Comments from Ben:
“I feel proud and confident and know my job well. I like earning my own money and saving it. I feel confident in each job I do at the Duckworth Arms. I feel supported in my job”.
Comments from James, Manager, Duckworth Arms:
“Bury EST has been a great help to us. We had been looking for a while for a Cleaner. Bury EST contacted us and provided the right candidate for the job role. We do not see Ben’s disability as a barrier, it’s the person we see. Ben puts in 100% on each shift he covers.”
Work Experience
Offering a work placement to an adult with a disability is a great chance to boost their confidence and self–esteem and provides them with an opportunity to develop and learn new skills.
Benefits of Work Experience
- Risk free trial of a new member of staff.
- No financial cost.
- Accessing a pool of hidden talent.
- Development opportunity for mentors.
- Development of supervisory and management skills of your current workforce.
- Promotes diversity and understanding amongst the wider staff group.
- Enhance your company’s public profile by supporting your local community.
- Evidence suggests that employees with learning disabilities stay with one employer for a longer time than most other employees and take less time off work (Mencap 2018).
Work experience placements are extremely flexible and can be arranged to suit your business needs.
We usually prefer a work placement to be for a set number of hours per day, one day per week, for 6-8 weeks.
Our experienced Placement Officers will liaise with you to work out the best plan for you.
How can you help us?
We are looking for work placements in a variety of sectors – admin, catering, grounds maintenance, cleaning etc.
Contact us at
Telephone: 0161 253 6588 Email: buryestenquiries@bury.gov.uk
Address: Bury Employment Support and Training, The Lodge, 57 Manchester Road, Bury, BL9 0TD
Promoting employment opportunities for Interns with learning difficulties/ disabilities and/ or Autism through a supported internship course.
Based in Central Manchester the Digital Independent Specialist College (DISC) supports young people with a flair for digital and creative technology to prepare for adulthood and employment.
Call 0161 410 2040
SEN Specialist sixth form within Bury offering a variety of courses and supported internships.
Call 0161 766 1597
Holy Cross College was founded to be an environment where people would find support, understanding and friendship. Our welcome extends to ALL faiths, and none, and all backgrounds. Whoever you are, whatever it is that makes you unique, we will value that uniqueness at Holy Cross.
Within the Sixth Form College we specialise in Advanced Level study, currently offering 40 Level 3 courses. Our University Centre offers a range of degrees in conjunction with a number of partner organisations.
Enrichment opportunities at Holy Cross are extensive – sport, music, drama, debating, charity work, D of E - and we invest heavily in supporting our students to develop their skills and interests beyond the classroom to reflect and develop their gifts and talents. This is, for us, a hugely important part of the package on offer at Holy Cross.
Smaller and friendlier than many large FE colleges, we are still big enough to feel different from school: an excellent preparation for university, progression on to apprenticeships and into employment and the next stages of your careers.
Holy Cross University Centre offers a wide range courses including Foundation and BA (Honours) degress. The courses are delivered and validated in partnership with Liverpool Hope and Edge Hill Universities. Study takes place in the evenings, helping students to combine their studies with work and family commitments. Course fees are very competitive and Holy Cross prides itself on the excellent student support throughout your studies. Studying for a degree at Holy Cross University Centre is a very convenient and affordable way for those wishing to study for a degree locally.
If you wish to know what this college offers, please see our Local Offer document.
Contact details:
- Telephone number - 0161 762 4500
- Email address - information@holycross.ac.uk
- Visit the Holy Cross website or find us on Facebook or X.
Hopwood Hall College is a further education institution located in Rochdale. It operates two campuses, in Rochdale and Middleton, offering a wide range of vocational and technical study programmes for young people aged 16–19, as well as university-level courses, Apprenticeship programmes, and adult education.
Call 01706 345 346
We are a unique college for 14-18 year olds based in the heart of the northern digital world – MediaCityUK
Our main focus is ensuring the future employability of our students within the digital media sector, whether that be in digital graphics, game development or television broadcasting. So whichever sector of the media industry you want to work in, we have something for you.
Students at UTC@MediaCityUK will develop professional digital and media skills as part of an academically rich curriculum that will see them work on a selection of projects and make contacts with a large variety of media professionals from the local area.
Contact details:
- Jude Evetts, Marketing, Employer Engagement & Admissions Manager
- Telephone number: 0161 661 3947
- Email address: Jude.Evetts@utcmediacityuk.org.uk
- Visit the Media City website and you can also find us on Facebook and X.
Are one of the largest providers of apprenticeships and adult education programmes in England,
The college offers a wide range of courses, including 16-23 courses, adult courses, higher education, and apprenticeships. It operates from multiple campuses and community venues, providing various educational opportunities to students in the region.
Call 0161 631 5000
Offers a wide range of Level 1–4 courses for 16–19-year-olds through ten Industry Excellence Academies and 19 Centres of Excellence. The college also provides adult and professional courses in 20 subject areas, from Entry Level to Level 6.
Call 03333 222 444
Introduction to Higher Education
Higher education (HE) is learning after age 18 at universities and other colleges. It includes degrees and professional qualifications.
Higher Education is an option that some consider straight away upon leaving further education, whilst others may choose to wait some years before commencing a course. There is also an option of achieving higher education qualifications through degree apprenticeships. Different post-sixteen and post-eighteen pathways may ask for different entry requirements depending on the course and/or college.
Some people take a gap year before starting higher education. They might work, volunteer or travel during this time.
Many students move away for university. This means managing food, money, health, and accommodation. Some choose a university close to home and travel each day. There is also the option of a university that offers courses run with colleges in Greater Manchester such as Bury College, Holy Cross or Manchester College. Some students choose distance learning where they can both live and work in their home and use the internet to take part in learning.
EHC plans will cease if a young person accepts a place at university. You need to talk to your university about support for your needs.
Local University Support
Each university has Learning Support offer for students with different needs. Their team can help if you have a learning difficulty, disability, medical condition, or language need. This can include for example specialist academic support, study centres, sensory rooms, and support applying for Disabled Student’s Allowance. Find out more about the support at universities closest to Bury.
- Manchester University – Disability, Advisory and Support Service
- Manchester Metropolitan University – Disability Support
- Salford University – Disability Inclusion Service
- Bolton University – Services for Disabled Students
- Royal Northern College of Music – RNCM Health and Wellbeing Hub
- University Academy 92 – Wellbeing and Support
- UCEN Manchester (Manchester College) – Disability Support
- BPP University – Learning Support
- Bury College – How We Support You
- Holy Cross University Centre – Support for Learning
- Open University (remote learning) – Disability
Starting university
Going to university can be a wonderful and exciting experience, but it can also bring its own unique challenges. It's natural to feel nervous or overwhelmed during the first few weeks.
It's important to look after your health when moving away from home for the first time, our main advice is: take care of yourself.
On this page we’ve got some tips and advice to help you during this important time.
Health advice
How you cope with the stress is the key to whether or not it develops into a health problem.
Stress is a natural feeling, designed to help you cope in challenging situations. In small amounts it's good, because it pushes you to work hard and do your best, including in exams.
Leaving home to start your studies can involve some stressful changes. These might include moving to a new area, meeting new people and managing on a tight budget.
Signs you might be stressed
The first signs of stress are:
- irritability
- sleep problems
Too much stress can lead to physical and psychological problems, such as:
- anxiety - feelings ranging from uneasiness to severe and paralysing panic
- dry mouth
- churning stomach
- palpitations - pounding heart
- sweating
- shortness of breath
- depression
Things that can help with stress
Short periods of stress are normal, and can often be resolved by something as simple as completing a task - which cuts down your workload - or by talking to others and taking time to relax.
Some of these suggestions might help:
- Work out what it is that's making you anxious. For example, is it exams, or money or relationship problems? See if you can change your circumstances to ease the pressure you're under.
- Try to have a more healthy lifestyle. Eat well, get enough sleep, exercise regularly, cut down on alcohol, and spend some time socialising as well as working and studying.
- Try not to worry about the future or compare yourself with others.
- Learn to relax. If you have a panic attack or are in a stressful situation, try to focus on something outside yourself, or switch off by watching TV or chatting to someone.
- Relaxation and breathing exercises may help.
- Try to resolve personal problems by talking to a friend, tutor or someone in your family.
- Read about how to cope with the stress of exams.
For more tips on beating stress, check out these 10 stress busters.
The NHS has eight free mental wellbeing podcasts or audio guides that may help you when your mood is low or you're facing an anxious time in your life.
Professional help for student stress
Long-term stress and anxiety is difficult to resolve by yourself, and it's often best for you to seek help.
Don't struggle alone. Anxiety can seriously affect your academic performance, and that's not only distressing for you, but means a lot of wasted effort.
Find out more about tackling student mental health issues.
Article provided by NHS Choices.
It's important to look after your health when moving away from home for the first time. This includes registering with a new GP and finding your local sexual health service.
Here are our five health tips for new students.
1. Register with a local GP
If, like most students, you spend more weeks of the year at your college address than your family's address, you need to register with a GP near your college as soon as possible.
That way you can receive emergency care if you need it, and access health services quickly and easily while you're at college.
This is especially important if you have an ongoing health condition, particularly one that needs medication, such as asthma, diabetes or epilepsy.
You can choose to register with any local GP. The health centre attached to your college or university is likely to be the most convenient, and the doctors working there will be experienced in the health needs of students.
Other health services available
Many college health centres have good links with specialists, such as psychiatrists, sports physicians, psychotherapists, counsellors and physiotherapists.
Having trouble getting an appointment? You can also always ask your local pharmacist for medical advice and support.
They may not be at the pharmacy counter when you go in, so ask the person at the counter (who may not be qualified to give medical advice) if you can speak to the pharmacist.
Getting ill during the holidays
If you become unwell or need other medical treatment when you're at home or not staying near your university GP, you can contact your nearest practice to ask for treatment.
You can receive emergency treatment for 14 days. After that you will have to register as a temporary resident or permanent patient.
Find out how to register as a temporary resident with a GP.
You can also visit an NHS walk-in centre or minor injuries unit. These can provide treatment for minor injuries or illnesses such as cuts, bruises and rashes.
However, they are not designed for treating long-term conditions or immediately life-threatening problems. You don't need to be registered and you don't need an appointment.
2. Register with a dentist
Dental problems can't be dealt with by doctors, so make sure you register with a local dentist.
Not all treatment is free, even under the NHS. You may be able to apply for help with health costs, including prescriptions and dental care.
3. Check your vaccinations
Men ACWY vaccination
Students are now routinely offered a vaccination to prevent meningitis W disease.
The Men ACWY vaccine protects against four different causes of meningitis and septicaemia: meningococcal (Men) A, C, W and Y diseases. It replaces the separate Men C vaccine.
All 17- and 18-year-olds in school year 13 and first-time university students up to the age of 25 are eligible as part of the NHS vaccination programme.
GP practices will automatically send letters inviting 17-and 18-year-olds in school year 13 to have the Men ACWY vaccine.
But if you're a student going away to university or college for the first time, contact the GP you're registered with to ask for the Men ACWY vaccine, ideally before the start of the academic year.
This is because you'll be at particularly high risk in the first weeks of term, when you're likely to come into contact with many new people of a similar age.
Mumps vaccination
Universities and colleges also advise students to be immunised against mumps before starting their studies.
The MMR vaccine (for mumps, measles and rubella) is part of the routine NHS childhood immunisation schedule. This means most young people who've grown up in England will have had two doses of it in childhood.
If you're not sure you've had two doses of the MMR vaccination, ask your GP for a catch-up vaccination.
Flu jab
Get an annual flu vaccination if you have asthma and take inhaled steroids. You should also get a flu vaccination if you have a serious long-term condition such as kidney disease.
4. Get contraception
Even if you don't plan to be sexually active while you're a student, it's good to be prepared.
Contraception and condoms are free to both men and women from any GP - it doesn't have to be your own - or family planning clinic.
Find your local sexual health service.
5. Rest and eat healthy food
Prevention is better than cure, as the saying goes, so you'll greatly increase your chances of avoiding your GP's waiting room by taking care of yourself in the first place.
Student life may not be renowned for early nights and healthy eating, but getting enough sleep and eating well will mean you have a better chance of staying healthy.
You'll feel more energetic and be better equipped to cope with studying and exams.
Remember to:
- eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day
- buy wholemeal bread and pasta instead of white
- keep fast food to a minimum
Eating well doesn't have to cost a lot and is often cheaper than takeaways. Taking the time to cook simple meals instead of eating out or buying ready meals is also healthier.
Buy a student cookbook for affordable healthy recipe ideas.
Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)
As a higher education student living in England, you can apply for a Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) if you have a:
- disability
- long-term health condition
- mental health condition
- specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia
The support you get depends on your individual needs and not on income.
Article provided by NHS Choices.
Supported Internships
A Supported Internship is a programme aimed at helping young people with a learning disability transition into paid work. This programme is different to other education based programmes, as it involves being in the work place most of the week. Whilst in the work place all interns will have a Job Coach who will support them to develop their skills and confidence.
A Supported Internship is about learning ‘real’ skills, for a 'real’ job, it is not just work experience. The amount of support provided by the Job Coach is different for everybody. However, all interns would usually start with 100% support which would fade week by week. Until the intern is working completely independently! Interns will also spend part of their week with their education provider (this could be a School, College or Training Provider, depending on where they are doing their Supported Internship). Here, interns will develop their employability skills, as well as Maths and English.
You must be aged between 16- 24 years old and have a current , Education Health Care Plan . There are no entry requirements needed to do a Supported Internship, only the desire to want a job and ready to start a job.
Where can I do my Supported Internship
- Bury College
- Elmsbank
- Project Choice
- Bridge College
Guidance from the Department of Education
Supported Internship is a final year of education, this is because the goal of the programme is to help young people transition from education into paid work (with support from a job coach).
There are some key things that you can do to prepare for a Supported Internship. The most important thing for anybody accessing a Supported Internship is to have done some work experience or volunteering. This is because it helps you to gain knowledge about what it is you might like doing, and where you feel your strengths and skills are. This helps us to ensure we are finding the best work placement for you- to ensure you have the best opportunity of progressing into paid work at the end of the programme.
Before coming on to a Supported Internship, we will work with you and the people that know you best to complete a ‘vocational profile’. A vocational profile is an important piece of work we do before anybody starts on the Supported Internship programme. This profile helps us to build up a picture of you. For example, your interests and skills, past work experience, past information about school, information about travel training, and also the areas of support that you would benefit from. All this information is key to ensuring we find you the best work placement to meet your needs, and it also ensures that the job coach can put the best strategies in place to support you to reach your potential whilst on programme.
Preparing for adulthood
Vocational Profile resource is a discovery document that is specifically related to work and supporting someone to find a job.
A Supported Internship is a programme that helps to bridge the gap from Education into paid work by providing additional support to young people. The programme is designed to support young people with additional needs who want to gain paid employment but would require additional support to do so.
In order to be eligible to access the Supported Internship programme, you must be between 16 - 24 years old and have an Education Health Care Plan. There are no specific qualifications or grades required, however the young person accessing this programme, must want to work.
The main goal of an internship is to help a young person with learning difficulties to develop the skills they need to be able to gain paid work. We need to make sure we get the right young person into the right job role with the right employer.
The young person would be supported in their work placement by their job coach, who will help identify the job role you want which also fulfils the business needs of the employer. They will support you from your initial induction and settling in period and will support you through your internship, but as you become more confident and independent, their support will gradually withdraw, only when you are ready, but will still be contactable should any issues arise. You will also work alongside other people in the business who will be your managers who will supervise you as they would all employees.
The Supported Internship is an unpaid programme, but to fund the support of a young person by a job coach in the work place an application will be made to DWP Access to Work on your behalf. Either the young person or a recognised appointee will have to sign invoices at the end of each month to release the funds for the Job Coach support.
The aim of the Supported Internship is to prepare you for employment. As you will have been fulfilling a business need in the organisation, discussion will have been happening to secure you paid work at the end of the programme. This may not always be possible, but we are quite clear with an employer at the start that we are looking for paid work at the end of the programme. If you reach the required standards and they have a vacancy they should offer employment, whether this be full time, part time or hours discussed between the young person and the employer.
How the funding works whilst on the Supported Internship programme
Access to work provides funding for job coaching and travel training in the workplace for interns whilst on the Supported Internship.
The education provider delivering the Supported Internship will apply for this funding, to enable the intern to be supported whilst on the programme. However, before the education provider is able to utilise any of this funding to support the intern, Access to Work will write to the intern/ appointee to inform of this funding application and gain consent to share information.
All education providers work in partnership with qualified job coaches, whose priority is to support interns in the workplace.
The role of the job coach is to complete a task analysis of the job role, and break down the tasks. The Job Coach then trains the intern to develop their skills, confidence, and independence through a training method called ‘Systematic Instruction Training’. The job coaching usually starts with 100% support, and then fades as the interns develops their sills, confidence and independence in the work place.
The aim of the programme is for the intern to develop the skills required for the job, and for the support from the job coach to fade, to enable the intern to be working independently, with the goal of achieving paid work by the end of the programme.
Support available whilst in paid work
Access to Work is also available to anybody in paid work, whether they have progressed into paid work from a Supported Internship programme or not.
Access to Work is available to anybody who is facing barriers whilst in paid work.
Practical support with your work
Access to Work could give you a grant to help pay for things like:
- specialist equipment and assistive software
- support workers, like a British Sign Language interpreter, a job coach or a travel buddy
- costs of travelling to work, if you cannot use public transport
- adaptations to your vehicle so you can get to work
- physical changes to your workplace
Your workplace can include your home if you work from there some or all of the time.
It does not matter how much you earn. If you get an Access to Work grant, it will not affect any other benefits you get and you will not have to pay it back.
You or your employer may need to pay some costs up front and claim them back later.
You can find out what Access to Work is and how to get support if you have a disability or health condition.
A Supported Internship is a programme that helps to bridge the gap from education into paid work by providing additional support to both the young person and the employer. The programme is designed to support young people with additional needs who have an Educational Health Care and Plan in place and are aged between 16 - 24, who want to gain paid employment but would require additional support to do so. The main goal of an internship is to help a young person with learning difficulties to develop the skills they need to be able to gain paid work.
A supported Internship is unpaid, there is no cost to the employer in offering an extended work placement to a young person. The young person will be supported whilst in placement by a Job Coach, funding for this and reasonable adjustments would be in place prior to starting in the workplace. An Employer would receive support and guidance throughout the placement from the provider.
The education provider would collaborate with the employer to ensure the best job match between the Intern and the employer fits from the roles they have available. In order for the programme to be a success, for both the employer and the young person, it is crucial that we match the right young person and their skill set with the right role and employer. The aim of the programme is to benefit both the employer and the intern.
Accepting a young person on a Supported Internship can not only be rewarding by giving a young person the opportunity to grow in confidence, but also to ensure they benefit from completing a Supported Internship in a real working environment, it is also beneficial to an employer in the long term by helping with their recruitment of staff.
How does your business benefit
- It can save your company time and money
- It gives you extra team capacity at no extra cost
- It opens up a diverse, undiscovered talent pool
- It provides motivated, committed employees
- It improves morale and team working
- It can enhance your company’s reputation, both internally and with customers
- It demonstrates social value, helping you attract further talent and win business
Grow your team, grow their confidence. While this is a game-changing opportunity for your business, it’s a life-changing opportunity for the supported interns. They develop in confidence, learn new skills, learn to work as part of a team, build their independence and progress towards paid employment. So, you really are helping to rewrite their future.
Further Information
For more information, you can contact Zerqa Ahmad, SEND Business Development Officer, who is leading on the Supported Internship Programme.
- Telephone: 0161 253 7234.
- Email: z.ahmad@bury.gov.uk.
- Address: 3 Knowsley Place, Duke Street, Bury, BL9 0EJ.
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